Peter Schwabe

Peter Schwabe is a scientific director at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP) and a part-time professor in the Digital Security Group at Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. His primary research focuses on cryptographic engineering, particularly post-quantum cryptography, secure cryptographic implementations, and high-assurance systems. He holds a PhD from Eindhoven University of Technology (2011) and a Diplom in Computer Science from RWTH Aachen University (2006).

His work includes leading projects like the ERC-funded EPOQUE project, which engineered post-quantum cryptographic standards. He contributed to NIST’s post-quantum cryptography standardization efforts, notably as a core developer of CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium. His research spans lattice-based cryptography, code-based cryptography, and formal verification of cryptographic software.

Publications highlight advancements in secure implementations against side-channel and speculative execution attacks, high-assurance cryptographic libraries (e.g., EasyCrypt), and practical post-quantum TLS protocols. Key contributions include optimizing cryptographic algorithms for embedded systems (ARM Cortex-M) and formal verification of KEMs like ML-KEM.

Scientific awards include an ERC Starting Grant (2018). He advises numerous PhD students and collaborates with industry and academia on cryptographic standards and security. His labs focus on cryptographic engineering, with teams advancing both theoretical and applied aspects of post-quantum security.